darkkavenger
Massimiliano Mortillaro
If this proves to be true, then that's likely to be a counterproductive move from Zeiss. I appreciate the freedom of choice when wanting to buy something, and I don't like being dictated where I should make my purchases.
dcsang
Canadian & Not A Dentist
This makes no sense imho for a company that should WANT clientelle to be buying their gear. With the continued advance of digital technologies I find it hard to believe that folks that produce a film camera would want to LIMIT distribution.
I was still considering their lenses but if their distributors dry up (i.e. CQ, PopFlash etc.) then what's the point. I'm not about to order a lens in Euros from Zeiss themselves and pay huge shipping and taxes and duty (seeing as how it would be coming from Europe vs the U.S.A.).
This is a poor move on Zeiss' part imho.
Dave
I was still considering their lenses but if their distributors dry up (i.e. CQ, PopFlash etc.) then what's the point. I'm not about to order a lens in Euros from Zeiss themselves and pay huge shipping and taxes and duty (seeing as how it would be coming from Europe vs the U.S.A.).
This is a poor move on Zeiss' part imho.
Dave
ywenz
Veteran
This move is crazy. Zeiss is done with. Time to jump onto the Leica ship.
Les Lammers
Established
I think the gray market ZI's were sourced when Hasselblad was the distributor. It may be more difficult to obtain product in the future.
Flyfisher Tom
Well-known
ywenz said:
Yep, seems Zeiss management has gone insane. Even relative to Leica management standards
VinceC
Veteran
This sounds like the kind of thing big corporations do.
RF cameras are a boutique niche product, with a tiny, nitpicky customer base. It doesn't make a lot of sense to alienate these kinds of customers from their trusted merchants.
RF cameras are a boutique niche product, with a tiny, nitpicky customer base. It doesn't make a lot of sense to alienate these kinds of customers from their trusted merchants.
Andrew Touchon
Well-known
I have been on the verge of ordering a 25mm ZM lens. However, this news has made me reconsider. I think I will either order a CV 28mm 1.9 Ultron ASPH or save up for a Leica 28mm Summicron ASPH. Stephen Gandy and Tony Rose are two of my favorite people to purchase from and Ziess won't get a penny out of me.
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peterc
Heretic
back alley
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Andrew Touchon said:I have been on the verge of ordering a 25mm ZM lens. However, this news has made me reconsider. I think I will either order a CV 28mm 1.9 Ultron ASPH or save up for a Leica 28mm Summicron ASPH. Steven and Tony Rose are two of my favorite people to purchase from and Ziess won't get a penny out of me.
email either tony or stephen and see what they have for stock.
don't spite yourself and miss out on a great lens.
joe
Flyfisher Tom
Well-known
Andrew Touchon said:I have been on the verge of ordering a 25mm ZM lens. However, this news has made me reconsider. I think I will either order a CV 28mm 1.9 Ultron ASPH or save up for a Leica 28mm Summicron ASPH. Steven and Tony Rose are two of my favorite people to purchase from and Ziess won't get a penny out of me.
Go for the CV 28mm/1.9, it is a stellar lens, well made and great signature wide open. Good thing to support Mr. Kobayashi and CV while Zeiss goes insane.
Flyfisher Tom
Well-known
Geez, the ZI prices are in euros, factor in the conversion rate, the customs/import fees .... they really have gone off the deep end if they think this will INCREASE sales !
Andrew Touchon
Well-known
back alley said:
Thanks for the comment. However, In real world handheld usage I seriously doubt that I would ever be able to tell the difference between the various lenses. Ziess has really peeved me off and not using their products is my small way of getting even.
back alley
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Andrew Touchon said:Thanks for the comment. However, In real world handheld usage I seriously doubt that I would ever be able to tell the difference between the various lenses. Ziess has really peeved me off and not using their products is my small way of getting even.
totally your call.
Flyfisher Tom
Well-known
Zeiss aside, they can shoot themselves in the foot if they wish ...
I'm more curious and excited about the new CV offering for the 25mm lens, now that non-rangefinder coupled CV 25 has been retired.
Given that Zeiss lenses are made by Cosina (albeit with proprietary designs), perhaps Mr. Kobayashi has brewed some exciting ideas from the experience for the new rangefinder-coupled CV 25 offering
I'm more curious and excited about the new CV offering for the 25mm lens, now that non-rangefinder coupled CV 25 has been retired.
Given that Zeiss lenses are made by Cosina (albeit with proprietary designs), perhaps Mr. Kobayashi has brewed some exciting ideas from the experience for the new rangefinder-coupled CV 25 offering
jaapv
RFF Sponsoring Member.
Hold your horses everybody! Zeiss is setting up an international network of distributors. They apologize for any inconvenience. Let's give them some time to get organised!
sdai
Established
This makes perfect sense business wise for Zeiss and their distributors, considering the extreme low volume of RF gears going around, less competition is great ... and apparently, Zeiss has overwhelming confidence that many folks will still buy no matter what.
Flyfisher Tom
Well-known
sdai said:
Really? Distributors are not your competition, they are your partners. Otherwise, Canon and Nikon would have cut off B&H years ago
Limiting your distributorships only cut off the avenues of purchase for your customers, thus lowering your own competitive edge. Particularly in a field where the volume is very low to begin with, how much savings are you really going to get in limiting distribution avenues versus the increased flow you could have enjoyed with Steven Gandy? Not to mention that Gandy's website is a mecca of information for all things RF, thus, a very well-traveled source of free advertisement. Now Zeiss has lost that too.
With business acumen like this, I'd be hard pressed into buying into their cameras or lenses. How long can this business model last? And what service support will there be in the future? Is Zeiss Ikon well established enough (as Leica is) to have the likes of independent 3rd parties like Krauter and DAG servicing them? Who knows.
I hope Zeiss Ikon survives. More real competition in the M-mount analog and digital arena is always good.
Maybe Zeiss will straighten this out. But to "strongly" suggest to Gandy that he should stop in the interim, seems like bad business sense and practice. You lose revenue stream, ad space, and customer good will. I hope the pennies are worth it. But then again, this is the same company that naively used the phrase "Final Solution" in their most recent ad campaign
So I'm not holding out much hope.
PRJ
Another Day in Paradise
Why is everyone threatening to abandon Zeiss just because they are doing something smart for their business? How many people buy grey market Leicas on this forum? Anyone? I still want to get one, it will just cost a little more. The camera is a fantastic tool and still a much better deal than a Leica. Look on these forums. Everyone that has one loves them.
Andrew Touchon
Well-known
patrickjames said:
I purchased the following grey market items from Tony Rose: Leica M6TTL, 35mm Summicron ASPH, SF 20 Flash, 1.25 viewfinder magnifier, and Leica camera straps. I saved approximately 30% and am a very happy camper.
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